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John McIntosh
Born around 1748, he was the son of
William & Mary McKay McIntosh and the grandson of
John Mohr McIntosh who
was the commander of the Scotch Highlanders at New Inverness, now known as
Darien.
John served throughout the Revolutionary War first as Captain of the First
Georgia Regiment on 7 January 1776, then as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant
of the Third Georgia Regiment on April 3, 1778. On 3 March 1779, John was
wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Briar Creek.
In recognition of his valor of defending Fort Morris in Sunbury, McIntosh
was awarded a sword with the words "Come and Take It" engraved on the
blade. These words were spoken by Lt.-Col. McIntosh when Lt. Col.
Fuser of
the British Forces demanded Fort Morris' surrender, and McIntosh told him
to come and take it! Fuser reconsidered his demand, and retreated.
John McIntosh married Miss Sarah Swinton in the year 1781.
Sarah was a
native of South Carolina, and after the war was whisked away to Florida to
establish their home on the St. John's River. On a visit to St. Augustine,
John was arrested and sent to Moro Castle at Havana, accused of "designs
against the Spanish Government". After a year imprisonment, he was freed
with the help of President Washington and friends.
After his "parole", John and the misses moved to St. Simons.
Sarah, who
had been blind for many years, died here on 9 May 1799. It is rumored that
her grave is located in a secluded spot on what was once known as the
"Village". After Sarah's death, John married
Agnes Hillary, widow of
Christopher Hillary, John's son William married
Agnes' daughter Maria.
During the War of 1812, John served as a general and was in command of
three regiments of infantry and a battalion of artillery for the
protection of Savannah and coastal Georgia. During this conflict, McIntosh
marched his troops over a thousand miles through wilderness to Mobile,
Alabama, when the British threatened the Gulf Coast. He was honored with a
letter of gratitude from the Mayor of Savannah, and the City Council
adopted resolutions of thanks for his gallant service. John
McIntosh died
around 1826. |
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